BEHAVIOUR / TEMPERAMENT

HEAD

:

KC

Skull fairly broad, occiput not pronounced. Cheeks not full or rounded. Muzzle, tapering to nose, moderately short and strong. Skull and foreface approximately equal in length. Stop very distinct. Nose black, except in brown or chocolate colour when it may be brown. In blues nose should be slate colour. Nostrils well developed.

CRANIAL REGION

:

Skull

:

FCI

Fairly broad, occiput not pronounced.

Stop

:

FCI

Very distinct.

FACIAL REGION

:

Nose

:

FCI

Black, except in brown or chocolate colour when it may be brown. In blues nose should be slate colour. Nostrils well developed.

Muzzle

:

FCI

Tapering to nose, moderately short and strong.

KC

Teeth and jaws strong with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws.

Jaws/Teeth

:

FCI

Teeth and jaws strong with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws.

Cheeks

:

FCI

Not full or rounded.

Eyes

:

FCI

Set wide apart, oval shaped, of moderate size, brown in colour except in merles where one or both or part of one or both may be blue. Expression mild, keen, alert and intelligent.

KC

Set wide apart, oval-shaped, of moderate size, brown in colour except in merles where one or both or part of one or both may be blue. Expression mild, keen, alert and intelligent.

Ears

:

FCI

Medium size and texture, set well apart. Carried erect or semi-erect and sensitive in use.

KC

Medium size and texture, set well apart. Carried erect or semi-erect and sensitive in use.

NECK

:

FCI

Of good length, strong and muscular, slightly arched and broadening to shoulders.

KC

Of good length, strong and muscular, slightly arched and broadening to shoulders.

BODY

:

FCI

Athletic in appearance. Slightly longer than height at withers.

KC

Athletic in appearance, ribs well sprung, chest deep and rather broad, loins deep and muscular, but not tucked up. Body slightly longer than height at shoulder.

Loin

:

FCI

Deep and muscular but not tucked up.

Chest

:

FCI

Deep and rather broad, ribs well sprung.

TAIL

:

FCI

Moderately long, the bone reaching at least to hock, set on low, well furnished and with an upward swirl towards the end, completing graceful contour and balance of dog. Tail may be raised in excitement, never carried over back.

KC

Moderately long, the bone reaching at least to hock, set on low, well furnished and with an upward swirl towards the end, completing graceful contour and balance of dog. Tail may be raised in excitement, never carried over back.

LIMBS

:

FOREQUARTERS

:

FCI

Front legs parallel when viewed from front. Bone strong but not heavy.

KC

Front legs parallel when viewed from front, pasterns slightly sloping when viewed from side. Bone strong but not heavy. Shoulders well laid back, elbows close to body.

Shoulder

:

FCI

Well laid back.

Elbow

:

FCI

Close to body.

FORELEGS

:

Pastern

:

FCI

Slightly sloping when viewed from side.

FEET

:

KC

Oval, pads deep, strong and sound, toes arched and close together. Nails short and strong.

Forefeet

:

FCI

Oval, pads deep, strong and sound, toes arched and close together. Nails short and strong.

Hind feet

:

FCI

As Forefeet.

HINDQUARTERS

:

FCI

Broad, muscular, in profile sloping gracefully to set on of tail.

KC

Broad, muscular, in profile sloping gracefully to set on of tail. Thighs long, deep and muscular with well turned stifles and strong well let down hocks. From hock to ground, hindlegs well boned and parallel when viewed from rear.

Thigh

:

FCI

Long, deep and muscular.

Stifle

:

FCI

Well turned.

Hock joint

:

FCI

Strong, well let down.

Rear pastern

:

FCI

From hock to ground, hindlegs well boned and parallel when viewed from rear.

GAIT / MOVEMENT

:

FCI

Free, smooth and tireless, with minimum lift of feet, conveying impression of ability to move with great stealth and speed.

KC

Free, smooth and tireless, with minimum lift of feet, conveying impression of ability to move with great stealth and speed.

COAT

:

HAIR

:

FCI

In both, topcoat dense and medium textured, undercoat soft and dense giving good weather resistance. In the moderately long-coated variety, abundant coat forms mane, breeching and brush. On face, ears, forelegs (except for feather), hindlegs from hock to ground, hair should be short and smooth.

COLOUR

SIZE

:

KC

Ideal height: dogs: 53 cms (21 ins); bitches slightly less.

Height at withers

:

FCI

Ideal: Males 53 cm (21 ins), Females slightly less.

FAULTS

:

FCI

Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog and on its ability to perform its traditional work.

KC

Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog and on the dog’s ability to perform its traditional work.